It is not for nothing that the Russian language is called great and powerful. Its vocabulary is a true wealth. And the real diamonds among all this splendor are countless phraseological units. They enrich, decorate, make colloquial and literary speech especially expressive.
The meaning of phraseology
Throwing remarks with each other, we sometimes do not even notice that we use this or that in a conversation, they are so organically inscribed in the language. And the most interesting thing is that when pronouncing folk or book phraseological units, we hardly think about their inner meaning. And even more so over the origin. And if someone suddenly specifically asked what the expression “dog in the manger” means, then it would not immediately be found what to answer. Although it is used quite often.
One of the phraseological dictionaries explains the meaning of the idiom in this way: it denotes a situation when someone does not allow another to use an object, thing, relationship, opportunities that he himself does not need at all. It is customary to use this phrase, of course, with a disapproving connotation in relation to the individual. However, it can be applied even when speaking about a group of people, a social collective, and even about an entire state. And its meaning is transparent: when all these subjects own something, but they themselves do not use it, and do not allow others to do it.
The origin of the expression "dog in the manger"
In the very first place, contemporaries recall a TV movie with that name. They are sure that it is from him that one must dance in order to determine what the expression "dog in the manger" means.
Some will remember that the film was based on a comedy by Lope de Vega. But not everyone will find out why both the original source and the film “Dog in the Manger” are so named. The meaning will become clear when we learn about the origin of this expression, regarding which there are two points of view.
According to the first, it goes back to Aesop's fable of the same name. In it, we are talking about a dog that sprawled on the hay and growls menacingly at the horses who want to approach him. “Well, a shameless creature,” one horse could not stand it. “And you don’t eat hay yourself, and you don’t let us in.” From this the moral is derived: live, they say, and let others live.
The second opinion goes into Russian folklore. It is believed that this is a truncated form of the proverb: "The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give to cattle."
Synonyms
Having found out what the expression “dog in the manger” means, you can easily find set phrases with a similar meaning. This includes the phrase “neither to yourself nor to others”: “Well, what are you, my friend, deciding with this dacha? You have to do something, otherwise it’s neither for yourself nor for others.” In this situation, the expression under consideration is also appropriate.
Such phraseological units with an explanation of a similar situation as “I myself don’t din (am), and I won’t give it to another” have exactly the same meaning with “a dog in the manger”. And indirectly: "It's hard to carry, but it's a pity to throw it away."
By the way, a similar parallel can be traced in other European languages, which allows us to make an assumption about the ancient origin of the image of a dog in the hay as a kind of standard of greed, greed, unfriendly attitude towards other people.
So, (like) the dog in the manger (literal translation "a dog in a manger"), as well as the French n'en mange pas et n'en donne pas ("it does not eat and it does not give"), as well as le chien du jardinière ("gardener's dog"), have the same meaning as our "dog in the manger".
Antonyms
As a rule, phraseological antonyms are much less common than, say, synonyms. Antonyms-idioms, opposite in meaning to what the expression “dog in the manger” means, are not recorded in modern dictionaries of the Russian language.
More or less in a certain context, the phrase “to your heart's content” is similar in meaning: “So Vanka says this: am I the only one who needs all this? Take as much as you like."
With a slight stretch, one can consider as an antonym the phrase from the Epistle of the Apostle James: "Every giving is good."
Use of the expression "dog in the manger" in literature and colloquial speech
The aphorism under consideration has a very wide use. Book phraseological units, as a rule, most naturally pass into colloquial speech in such a way that it is then difficult to determine which of them was primary.
The expression "dog in the manger" is appropriate to quote from the already mentioned comedy (film of the same name). The main character, Teodoro, uses this idiom when addressing Diana.
It is often used in journalism. So, in one of the newspapers it was told about an elderly man who lived alone in an apartment of three rooms, hardly and often listed as debtors, but in no way wanted to make room to settle his own niece in need of housing. The author of the article exclaims: “In a word, like a dog in the manger. And I won’t give it myself, and I won’t give it to others! ” Thus, with the help of this stable expression, the journalist recreates before the eyes of the reader the true image of the poor fellow. Greedy, stubborn, like the hero of Aesop's fable.
A dog in the manger - neither to himself nor to people. The meaning of the saying becomes clear after getting acquainted with its origin. It is believed that the idea of "dog and hay" was first expressed by the ancient Greek fabulist Aesop in the fable "Dog in a manger". The dog lies on the hay and, with its aggressive behavior, does not allow horses (in other versions, a donkey, bulls) to approach the hay.Once the Dog lay down in a barn in the hay. Lies, growls and does not allow horses to eat.
- Well, you shameless animal! one horse finally said to her. “And you don’t eat hay yourself, and don’t let us eat!”
Analogues of the saying "dog in the manger"
The use of phraseology in literature
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“Lieutenant Knyazhko in these cases - is it clear who? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. Confuse the woman's head - and damn it "(Yu. Bondarev "Coast").
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“I must warn you that you are now like a dog in the manger - sorry, this is just a comparison - neither to yourself nor to others”(Dostoevsky "The Eternal Husband")
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“It’s just, the scoundrel, he found out that twenty thousand fell to my share, so why shouldn’t he! Like a dog in the manger: neither to himself nor to others.(Gogol "Litigation")
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“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that you close the kingdom of heaven to men, for you yourselves do not enter, and do not allow those who want to enter”(Gospel of Matthew 23:13)
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“Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken the key of understanding: you yourselves did not enter, and prevented those who entered”(Gospel of Luke 11, 52)
Lope de Vega "Dog in the Manger"
A comedy in three acts by the famous Spanish playwright, poet and prose writer Lope de Vega (literally "The Gardener's Dog" - "El perro del hortelano"). Written in the first decade of the seventeenth century. Theme: love of a commoner and an aristocrat.
The stable expression "dog in the manger" is used less and less in the modern world. It completely sounds like this: "like a dog lies in the hay, and does not eat itself, and does not give to the cattle." Many people know the film with the same name.
Dog in the manger: how to understand
The meaning of the expression is the same: a certain person does not use any good, it does not bring him any benefit, but he does not want to give this benefit to others. But there are several options for the origin of the expression:
- the dog occupies the hay, the cows do not eat it, but the dog does not eat it either, it turns out: neither for himself, nor for people. Example: you came to a neighbor to ask him for plums that crumble and no one needs to make jam. The neighbor took pity, the plums fell off and rotted. It turns out that he didn’t use it himself, and didn’t let you turn plums into a blessing - jam;
- there is an opinion that after the dog has lain on the hay, the cow will no longer eat it, and therefore it is believed that the dog itself does not enjoy the benefit, and interferes with others to live normally. But the meaning is about the same.
Important: the expression is used not only in relation to an individual, but also in relation to a group of persons or a whole society.
Example: There is a well in the village, the residents do not need it, it has been polluted. And people from the neighboring village suffer from lack of water and are ready to walk here. But the owners of the well do not allow this.
Synonyms
- "neither to myself nor to people";
- it’s hard to carry, but it’s a pity to throw it away;
- neither to oneself nor to others;
- I won’t give it to myself, and I won’t give it to another.
A bit of history
There is an opinion that the phraseological unit comes from Isop's fable. It tells that the dog was lying on the hay, and one of the cows was indignant, saying that she was shameless and "you don’t eat the hay yourself, and you won’t let us in."
There is a similar saying in many languages of the world, and everywhere it means about the same thing: a person who does not need any things, values or anything else, but who does not give them to others, is condemned by society.
Important: find out what the phrase means: "
Aphorisms, quotes, popular expressions: a storehouse of wisdom left by descendants. The world does not stand still, it develops, changes, much in it develops in a spiral, but there are things that go in a circle. It's not good, but it's not bad either. Human relations. Friendship, love, rivalry, hypocrisy, respect. The depth, the essence of these relations is enormous and diverse. You can reflect, explain, feel them using those expressions, quotes, sayings that were invented by our ancestors. Today we will talk about one of them. So, what does the expression "dog in the manger" mean?
History of appearance
To answer this question, let's look at the origin of the expression itself. The first who introduced this phrase into our lives was the ancient Greek fabulist Aesop. The fable is about a dog that, following the instructions of its owner, does not allow other animals to go to the hay. The fable is called "Dog in the manger", over time the phrase has changed, the expression dog in the manger is more often used. People have repeatedly returned to this already famous phrase, which in a nutshell explains what is happening. Let's look at the following points and take a closer look at what the expression "dog in the manger" means.
Favorite movie
Back in Soviet times, based on the story of the same name by Lope de Vega, a musical feature film “Dog in the Manger” was shot. In the title of the tape itself, a catch phrase was used, but in an abbreviated form. Everyone's favorite film performed by the stars of Soviet cinema reveals the meaning of the phrase. Its meaning boils down to the following: the same dog that bites and does not eat itself. One more similar expression can be cited as an example: “I myself am not, and I will not give to others.” Or here's a couple more similar expressions: "Neither to yourself nor to people", "Live yourself and let others." The heroine of the tape is faced with a difficult choice: to marry a rich and noble man or give her heart to a handsome, but, alas, not noble origin secretary. A noble lady is torn between the attraction of the heart and common sense. Her temperamental nature resembles the actions of the same dog that does not need a secretary, but on the other hand ... "love, why are you torturing me?" She does not give rest to her servant, but she is also unable to decide.
Love, devotion and wisdom
If the actions of the dog are more or less clear to us (the desire to serve the owner), then in human relations something else comes out. On the one hand, the character (or another person in a similar situation) cannot make a choice and let go of the situation. It doesn't look the best. But if you look from the other side, ask yourself why, for example, our heroine behaves in this way.
So, let's take a look at this side of what the expression "Dog in the manger" means. Yes, she cannot decide, give false hope, her feelings are very strong and reliable. Moreover, in addition to love and devotion, wisdom comes into play. What will happen to love if society turns away, what will happen to them, and possibly their unborn children, if social isolation overtakes them? Yes, of course, you can fight for your love, but what will be the outcome? What can happen, how much this situation can cripple, yes, cripple the soul? Thus, we see what the expression "dog in the manger" means.
The first impression is the absence of any sense and even malice. And now the second impression is deeper, more meaningful, it clarifies the situation. The meaning of the expression "dog in the manger" is much deeper when examined in more detail.
Like a dog in the manger who. Razg. Prejudice Someone does not use something and does not allow others to use it. About a human. - Lieutenant Knyazhko in these cases - is it clear who? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. He confused the woman's head - and damn it.(Yu. Bondarev. Shore). Tomorrow morning we'll go. - Not! I'm not going anywhere now! - cut off Tamara ... - So-so ... You're ready for anything. And I'll go! I haven't been to the village for a long time. - Certainly! You're a free Cossack... - And you? You act like a dog in the manger(V. Sukhanov. Overcoming).
Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008 .
See what "Like a dog in the manger" is in other dictionaries:
like a dog in the hay- adj., number of synonyms: 1 does not use itself and does not give to others (1) ASIS Synonym Dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary
LIKE A DOG IN THE HAY
Like a dog, it lies in the hay: it does not eat itself, and does not give to others.- Like a dog, it lies in the hay: it does not eat itself, and does not give to others. See MERGERITY SPIN ... IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people
dog in the manger- lies, does not eat herself and does not give to others Neither to herself nor to others Cf. Rose dog. Wed I must warn you that now you are like a dog in the manger, sorry, this is only a comparison neither to yourself nor to others. Dostoevsky. Eternal husband. 14. Wed. Just a scoundrel, I found out ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary
DOG IN THE MANGER- who, what to be; do smth. Not to yourself, not to others. This means that a person, a group of persons or a social collective (X), as well as the state (L) has something at its disposal, but does not use it and does not allow others to use it. Speaks with... ... Phraseological dictionary of the Russian language
Who. Razg. Prejudice Someone does not use anything himself and does not allow others to use it. About a human. Lieutenant Knyazhko is clear who is in these cases? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. Confusing the woman's head and not a damn thing. (Yu. Bondarev. Shore). Tomorrow… … Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language
Dog in the Manger (play)- A dog in the manger (Spanish: El perro del hortelano) is a comedy by the Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, written around 1604 and published in 1618. Its name, which has become a catch phrase in many languages, apparently dates back to ancient Greek ... Wikipedia
Dog in the Manger (film)- This term has other meanings, see Dog in the manger. Dog in the manger Jean ... Wikipedia
dog in the manger- (Like) a dog / ka in the hay who l. About a man who himself does not use anything. and does not give to others ... Dictionary of many expressions
dog- DOG, female. (and in the south and west. of a common genus) dog, gatehouse, sevlyaga bonfire, fofensk. hot zap. (grunting) see the olon. abusive bark, amka: domestic animal Canis domesticus; in an extensive sense. dog generic name, dog, wolf, fox, chasing and ... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
Books
- Lope de Vega. Collected works in 6 volumes (set of 6 books), Lope de Vega. The first volume of the collected works of the famous Spanish playwright Lope de Vega (1562-1635) includes his comedies: "Fuente Ovehuna", "Perivañes and Commander Ocaña", "Star of Seville" and "Punishment - ...
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